Question

How do you increase the rate of an SN1 reaction?

Answer 1

Increase the concentration of the alkyl halide.

Explanation:

the rate determining step of `SN_1` is a unimolecular equation (mechanism of two steps) which is the step of forming the carbocation:

`R-X->R^(+)+X^(-)`

and therefore, the rate is giving by: `Rate=k[R-X]`.

To increase the rate of the reaction we can increase the concentration of the alkyl halide.

Organic Chemistry | Predicting the Mechanism as SN1 or SN2.